On December 25, 2024, Finland launched a formal investigation into the suspected Russian involvement in the latest attack on undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. The incident, which occurred on Christmas Day, resulted in the damage of two power cables and four data cables linking Finland and Estonia. Among the affected cables were the Estlink 2 electricity transmission line and several key telecommunications lines, including cables owned by Finnish companies Elisa and Cinia. Despite the damage, Finland’s communication infrastructure remained largely intact, with data traffic redirected to backup connections.
Authorities have reason to believe that a Russian vessel, likely from its shadow fleet attempting to evade sanctions, may have been responsible for the sabotage. The Finnish Border Guard intercepted a Russian Eagle S tanker in the Finnish Gulf, which was found to have an anchor chain raised without fully releasing the anchor. Special teams from Finland’s Coast Guard and Helsinki police boarded the ship to gather evidence, including details related to the vessel’s cargo, which is under further investigation.
The damage is being classified as “aggravated vandalism,” and Finnish officials have raised concerns about the repeated nature of these incidents. Estonia’s Interior Minister, Lauri Läänemets, referred to the attacks as systematic, viewing them as deliberate acts against critical infrastructure. Finland’s Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, reassured the public that electricity supply would not be affected, and repair work on the damaged cables would begin promptly. The disruption to communication services was minimal, thanks to the country’s contingency measures.
This incident follows a series of similar attacks in the Baltic region. In November 2024, several undersea cables between Finland, Germany, and Sweden were severed, although earlier investigations attributed that damage to construction work. Additionally, in 2023, a Chinese vessel caused significant damage to subsea cables and a gas pipeline in the area. The damage to the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022, widely believed to be the result of sabotage, further heightened concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in the region. As investigations continue, authorities are keen to identify the responsible parties and bolster security measures against future threats.
